January 23rd, 2012

We felt compelled to share some of these breathtaking photos from Africa Yoga Project! The Africa Yoga Project uses the transformative power of yoga to empower communities & change lives.

The Africa Yoga Project supports their local community by providing effective and innovative programs that encourage peace, as well as improve physical health and mental well-being. AYP believes that the power of yoga can help community members become self-sufficient and bring opportunities for the community to learn how to foster peace across the communities of East Africa.

One of the three programs AYP focuses on is Baptiste Yoga on the Streets. This style of community yoga is helping to change the lives of young, urban Kenyans for the better. AYP's community yoga is so transformational because it provides a healthy and motivational venue for community members to connect with their community and build support systems. There are many young people living in slums in Nairobi and with the practice of Baptiste vinyasa yoga, they are able to find strength to not only survive, but to thrive.

January 21st, 2012

January 17th, 2012

Or, YJSF as we so endearingly love to abbreviate it. What a blast! We may be back to the grind in Los Angeles, but I think we left a lot of heart in San Francisco. It was so awesome to meet Manduka fans, see familiar faces, and snap fun photos like these... because You Are a Masterpiece!

January 14th, 2012

You don’t need to resolve to do more yoga, you need to acknowledge the yoga in everything that you already do! Check out this amazing article from FitSugar.com for 5 tips to keep your Healthy Resolution.

January 9th, 2012

It's your partner in practice. It's always got your back, and your front. It's your Soul Mat! It knows your strengths and weaknesses, and supports you no matter what. Check out a few of the amazing entries we’ve received so far!

(#1)Name: Lisa KorbSoul Mat: Manduka PROliteMy Soul Mat Story: I never thought much about yoga mats... had the same old teal one since high school (10+ years). But something about it wasn't right. For one, it reminded me of those first yoga classes: me at 16 years old, the rest of the class about 30 years older than me. Don't get me wrong, nothing's wrong with age, but those first classes I took were a bit of a snooze-fest. But then I moved to California and saw the light through active Vinyasa, Bikram, Forrest, Anusara and Iyengar classes. I found power and energy in inversions and more playful postures. And I found Manduka. I first saw my soul mat at the Wanderlust festival in Squaw Valley. One step on, and I knew it was a forever thing. Its dusty, calming purple hue, its sturdy base with just the perfect amount of stick---no STUCK about it. My Manduka mat helps me hold postures longer, with more confidence. I am strong and solid and grounded. And it was a gift from my partner, which makes it a soul mate's soul mat :)

(#2)Name: Lisa AhrensSoul Mat: Manduka PRO – Black SapphireMy Soul Mat Story: my story isn't linear or riveting-- like any good love story, it's more about the feeling than about the background information. i loved the black mat pro, and it came out in my favorite color. i ordered it as fast as my fingers could type, and the rest is history. i practice on it, i teach with it, i lug it on my back on crowded subways, tapping into unsuspecting citizens, building muscles just by holding it. but i wouldn't trade those extra 7 pounds for any other mat. it's absolutely perfect, irreplaceable. it supports my practice and, therefore, my spirit, and i wouldn't trade that for anything!

(#3)Name: Zachary WysockiSoul Mat: The Midnight PROlite MatMy Soul Mat Story: My Soul Mat story began in March of 2011. I had been practicing power vinyasa style yoga as part of the P90X program. The "hand-me down" mat that I was using was not cutting it. I then met my soul mat, the midnight blue PROlite and my practice went to a whole new level. I then discovered a local baptiste style hot yoga studio that had newly opened, The Funky Buddha. I was a little apprehensive about practicing in a room with other people and at 95 degrees, but I overcame that with my mat in hand. I began regularly practicing at the studio and fell in love with yoga even more. I experienced an awesome practice, as the studio went through renovations, at a Oval beach in Saugatuck, MI. My 2 year old daughter wanted to join in the yoga love as we went into "frog pose". She did the pose with me on my mat as the instructor snapped a photo(the attached photo). This was my best memory of the summer. The studio offered an assistant teacher training weekend and this immediately sparked my interest for I wanted a way to enhance my practice and help others to enhance theirs. I completed the assistant teacher program and enjoy the "co-creation" that occurs with the students when assisisting. Thinking back a year ago, I would have never thought that yoga would be such an important part of my life. I can't imagine life without yoga, and can't imagine yoga without my soul mat.